As a historian, Jadunath Sarkar (1870-1958) is a study in himself. This re-issue of his classic work fulfils a demand from all students and researchers of Indian history and society.
Shivaji and his times is much more than a biography of the great Maratha leader. It deals with the tangled web of Deccan history in the seventeenth century, describes Shivaji’s relations with the Mughals, provides a detailed knowledge of the internal affairs of the Mughal Empire at the period of its decline, and also analyses Shivaji’s relations with the English and Portuguese. The book concludes with a description of Maratha government, institutions and policy in the seventeenth century, and of Shivaji’s achievements, character and place in history.
Some original reviews of Shivaji and his times:
“The reputation of Professor Jadunath Sarkar as a sound critical historian ... will be confirmed and extended by his new volume on Shivaji ... Prof. Sarkar’s bold and deliberately provocative book merits the closest study.”
- Vincent A. Smith
“All his books are good; but perhaps the best of them is the Life and Times of Shivaji. It is full of research, and gives a striking picture of the great event—the birth and development of the Maratha nation.”
- H. Beveridge
As a historian, Jadunath Sarkar (1870-1958) is a study in himself. His best-known works are a multi-volume work on Aurangzeb, works on Shah Jahan, Shah Alam II, the rise of the Marathas and an account of the military history of medieval India.
Chapter 1: The Land and the People Chapter 2: Boyhood and Youth Chapter 3: First Wars with the Mughals and Bijapur Chapter 4: Strenuous Warfare Chapter 5: Shivaji and Jai Singh Chapter 6: Visit to Aurangzib Chapter 7: 1667-1670 Chapter 8: Struggle with the Mughals and Bijapur 1671-1674 Chapter 9: Coronation of Shivaji Chapter 10: South Konkan and Canara Chapter 11: Naval Enterprises Chapter 12: Invasion of the Karnatak Chapter 13: His Last Years Chapter 14: Shivaji’s Relations with the English and the Portuguese Chapter 15: Government, Institutions and Policy Chapter 16: Shivaji’s Achievement, Character and Place in History